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A Prayer about the One Thing We Need

by | Jan 22, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about the One Thing We Need

Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.’ John 6:35

Lord Jesus,

Bread of life; manna from heaven,

Forgive us when we are like the grumbling people in this story, 

people who have just been fed a filling feast 

you produced out of two fish and five loaves

and who now clamor for more miracles. 

Open our eyes to see that you are the miracle, 

you are the one thing we need. 

We don’t need tricks and magic shows, 

we need the miracle of redemption, 

a Savior sent from heaven to feed us 

the food that fully satisfies, 

to fill us with the living water that quenches our thirst. 

May we see that you are real, 

that while we can’t physically eat you 

like a piece of bread, 

we can fully partake of you, 

moment by moment, 

through your Word, by your Spirit. 

Help us to see that when we fully take you in, 

you satisfy our deepest longings—

for love, for peace, 

for hope, for trust, 

for forgiveness, for healing. 

In your very real name. Amen. 

Read John 6:22-71.



 

A Prayer about Preparing for Glory

by | Jan 21, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Preparing for Glory

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 1 Peter 5:10

Eternal and Everlasting God,

You knew all along how people might respond 

when I tell them I’ve written a book 

about facing our mortality, 

about preparing for glory.* 

Some wonder if I’m morbid, 

and others wonder if I’m sick. 

But some get it. 

Some know that death is our certain fate; 

some walk with a diagnosis 

that will lead to death sooner rather than later; 

some walk with a loved one with such a diagnosis. 

Help us, Lord, we pray, 

to know the hope of glory 

you have given to all who die in Christ. 

Help us to let go of the things of this earth 

to which we cling, 

that we might meditate on eternal glory:

Eternal glory is where we are headed. 

It is heaven. 

It is the new heavens and the new earth. 

It is looking fully on the face of Christ. 

It is hearing the welcome of our Father 

and enjoying the embrace of his Son. 

It is truly believing and clearly seeing 

God’s love for us. 

It is living fully into our creational calling 

to bear God’s image 

and to rule as servants in Christ’s kingdom. 

And it is doing so forever. 

Oh dear Father, thank you for preparing us 

for such glory.

In Jesus’ glorious name. Amen. 

Read 1 Peter 5:6-11; 2 Corinthians 4:17-18; Romans 8:18-25.



 

A Prayer about Caring for the Mentally Ill

by | Jan 20, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about Caring for the Mentally Ill

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Comforting Father,

We lift up all who are affected by mental illness. 

Sadly, because of our ignorance about mental illness, 

many of the mentally ill suffer “secondary wounds.” 

Both the afflicted and their families have suffered

suggestions for quick-fix by faith cures, 

condemnation of behavior, 

or exile from the body. 

As we look to our Lord Jesus, 

who came alongside the mentally afflicted 

and often healed but always cared, 

make us more like him. 

Help us to be sensitive, 

to consider the context of suffering, 

to listen well, 

to remember the hope we have to offer—

the incarnate, resurrected, and ascended Christ 

will one day come again 

to redeem and restore all broken bodies. 

How we ache for that day.

In Christ’s restoring name. Amen. 

Read 1 Peter 5:10; Matthew 11:28-30; Matthew 4:24; Romans 15:13. 



 

A Prayer about the Good News for Robbers, Liars, and Cheats

by | Jan 19, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about the Good News for Robbers, Liars, and Cheats

Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole her father’s household gods. Genesis 31:19

Author God,

What a story, a true story, 

you have given us in your Word. 

For all of those reading through the Bible in a year, 

we have now gone through much of Genesis, 

and we are dumbstruck by all of 

the murder, hatred, envy, robbery, lying, and cheating — 

by the very people you have promised to bless.

In just part of the true story, 

Jacob cheats Esau; Laban cheats Jacob. 

Leah is despised; Rachel envies Leah. 

Rachel steals her father’s household gods, 

then lies about them when he comes looking for them (Genesis 27-31). 

As we read your whole Story of grace, 

we see people like ourselves, 

people who feel envious, 

people who cover up the truth sometimes, 

people who trick or manipulate others 

to get what they want, 

people who hate and people who feel hated. 

And yet, what we see in this Story over and over again 

is you, the faithful, steadfastly loving, 

merciful, and forgiving God 

who continues to call your people 

to be fruitful and multiply, 

who sent your Son to forgive and cleanse us 

from our sins once and for all. 

Give us a deep love 

for the truth and hope in your redeeming Word. 

In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Read Genesis.



 

A Prayer about God’s Plans for Us

by | Jan 18, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about God’s Plans for Us

‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’ Jeremiah 29:11. 

Sovereign Lord,

It’s not even the end of January, 

and some of the plans and goals we made for this year 

have already ended in what looks like “disaster” to us: 

instead of being on track to run a 5k, 

we had the flu and stayed in bed for a week, 

instead of being more patient with our kids, 

our teenager wrecked the car and we lost our temper, 

instead of planning our anniversary trip, 

our spouse was diagnosed with cancer…

All good plans…disrupted.

Thank you for the truth of this verse—

you were speaking to the Israelites 

who were exiled in Babylon 

because of their disobedience and sin. 

Yes, their dreams had been crushed, 

their plans changed, 

but you promised them redemption and restoration 

not after, but during 

their time of exile. 

Help us draw near to you 

and trust in you in disrupted plans, 

that we might see the good stories 

you are writing in our lives 

for your glory.

In Jesus’ redeeming name. Amen. 

Read Jeremiah 29:1-11. 



 

A Prayer about the Foolishness of Sin

by | Jan 17, 2024 | Daily Prayer, Gospel living, Spiritual Growth

A Prayer about the Foolishness of Sin

The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’

They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; 

there is none who does good. Psalm 14:1

Merciful and Forgiving Lord,

Thank you for this reminder 

that without Jesus, our Savior, 

we are all fools. 

Our sin nature, 

the nature with which we were born 

persists in telling us, 

“There’s no God. 

You are your own god. 

Do what feels right to you, 

because you rule!” 

Our sin nature whispers to us, 

“You’re a good person. 

You’re not nearly so bad 

as that guy down the street 

who always yells at his wife and kids.” 

The apostle Paul says, 

“All have sinned and fall short 

of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). 

David says, 

“There is none who does good, 

not even one” (Psalm 14:3). 

And yet, there is one who did do good, 

one who never sinned. 

And he came for us, 

to be our perfect sacrifice. 

He sent his Spirit to arouse us 

from our zombie status, 

to awaken us to the true wisdom of Jesus. 

Thank you, Lord, 

for such a great salvation. 

Thank you for making us “good” 

in Christ’s goodness, our only hope. 

Read Psalm 14.